Day 47: Pennine Way - Marsden to Hebden Bridge (HALF WAY)

Day 3 on the Pennine Way, and a huge milestone has been reached. I’m now HALF WAY from Land’s End to John O’Groats!

• Date: 6 May 2024
• Start: Marsden
• End: Hebden Bridge
• Miles: 18.8
• Total miles: 607.3
• Accommodation: Hebden Bridge Hostel

I started early doors this morning, heading off at half 7. The sun was just coming up over the valley, which was beautiful. 

As I walked back up the road to rejoin the Pennine Way, there were some sheep loose, wandering all over the road. I’m not a shepherd, so couldn’t really do anything, but they eventually found a field with a collapsed fence and ran inside. 

I then got back on trail and headed up my first hill of the day. 

After crossing a road, it was then on to the second hill of the day before crossing the M62 via a bridge. 

The next section was pretty boring, walking alongside reservoirs, which this area seems to have plenty. I did get a view of a rainy looking Manchester though. 

A reached a big tower called Stoodley Pike. There were lots of people around, including a kid shouting at the top, who definitely has a future in loudly announcing things. 

It was time for the descent into Hebden Bridge, which involved walking along a canal for a bit. It being a bank holiday, there were plenty of people about to get in the way. 

As I arrived in Hebden Bridge, the rain started to come, so I raced to my hostel for the night as quickly as I could. To say I timed today’s walk well is an understatement. There was a woman protesting on her own in the middle of the street, walking in front of cars and shouting down a megaphone. Not exactly the welcoming I wanted from this picturesque town. 

I foolishly thought the hostel would have laundry facilities, so I’m going to smell for a few days longer until I can wash my clothes. 

The main news today is that, according to my guide book, I’m half way from Land’s End to John O’Groats. I went out for food and a beer in celebration. 

Today wasn’t as hard as the first two days, but there’s no rest, as tomorrow has the second most ascent of the whole of the Pennine Way.